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Friday, October 20, 2006

Paris is a grey city - overcast skies, grey cobbled streets with grey Baron Haussmann buildings. Citizens dressed in grey neutrals with just a dash of color at the neck. Why is this a good thing? Because grey acts as the perfect foil for brilliant colors. Grey makes colors sing. We adore Ladurée's pale green, Hermés' Orange, Hediard's red, Fauchon's hot pink. Strong colors radiate against this serene grey backdrop.

It's color basic theory.

And why do welove to wander aimlessly down Paris' streets? Lois Swirnoff explains in THE COLOR OF CITIES;Elegant, gracious and stylish, the great lady reveals her distinction facially. The aesthetic is one of dignified composure. Close range colors in these facades impart a sense of unity, rather than commercial competition (like New York). Restraint and refinement is the urban message.Par hasard /by chance I passed this art student sketching in the Jardins du Luxembourg. Tout en gris. Note how GREEN the greens look surrounded by all that gris (grey). King of Paris pastry, Pierre Hermé uses pearl grey for hispretty boxes. THE COLOR OF CITIES is a fav book because it explains why we love Paris, Rome, Venice, or any extraordinary city. For reasons usually never considered like longitude, angles of light, shadow shapes. Paris' low-contrast light is softer, more atmospheric, more moody and best for still life painting. Thanks to overcast grey skies. a tout à l'heure

﻿ These grey cheeses are aged in charcoal. They look a bit like corrugated cardboard left in a cellar. But on a tartine (slice) of fresh baguette..YUM

I love the glorious grays, too! The most elegant woman I ever saw was dressed all in gray, with silver hair. (Most days find me similarly attired--also with silver hair--but I miss elegance by a country mile, I'm afraid.)

Like most Plaine Air artists, I love the slanting am & pm sunlight. But on a gray day, the light is consistent, softer, and prolonged. To mother nature, its' just another beautiful, albeit grey, day.Have fun in Paris!sjerseyboy

I love seeing all your stuff, your walls, your paints, we are all curious of other artists. Paris sounds very interesting.you like to leave the Backgrounds white, do you find the colors more intense/alive this way?

Shant A good observation about my use of the white paper..My teacher, David Dewey constantly stressed letting the whites play in and out of the colored areas..he would say let the paper breathe. Also I'm influenced by the simplicity of Japanese woodblock prints..maybe I'll do a post on them when I get back. Thanks for your comment :)

Dear Carol,As a regular reader of your blog and in response to your quest for special places in Paris may I suggest the following:

1). Café Voltaire on the corner of Quai Voltaire and rue de Beaune. The atmosphere is magic, especially in the morning. I love their china – white with blue cornflowers, and they have fresh flower arrangements by le fils du patron. It's open for breakfast, lunch and tea and Sennelier is juste à deux pas!

2) Terre de Chine – one of the best teashops in Paris – 49 rue Quincampoix 75004 (near Centre Pompidou). An excellent selection of Chinese teas and fine porcelain expertly chosen directly from producers by the boutique owners.

3) Librairie La Porte étroite – 10 rue Bonaparte 75006. Run by a charming man, a very unusual art books shop with a good choice of second-hand & new art books.

4) More funky in style and gathering point of students and local creative people – Le Bizuth, 202 Boulevard Saint-Germain.

r.chun the best way to learn French is to fall in love, as Carol has with Paris. PAris has more grey days than London, yet its stunning design and details...it constant display of sheer genius, makes Paris a place of dreams...Carol you are my favorite art teacher...your paint brush is like a magic wand, you have a beautiful blog...you explained the capture of light brillantly! Paris will smile on you! How lucky we will be when you return...I canot wait to see what you will bring us!!

Cher M. ChunnThe best way to learn French is by immersion.Rent/buy Fr movies..& turn off the subtitles after a couple of watchesListen to French news all day long or better yet French POPas I doWatch the French news on the computer or if they have it in Seattle.. Buy some BDs - bande dessiné - French adult comics and NON! they are not naughty. More like manga -illustrated storiesAdele Blanc-Sec is good series to begin with.Get yr ear atuned and the tongue will followForget classes IMOBon Soir

Have a beautiful time in Paris ... city of love .. I'm there with you every moment that I read your writings and drink in your beautiful paintings. Paris, in my heart, is my home. Say hello to Paris for me, too. I look forward to reading all about your ventures when you return. Au Revoir mon Ami -- Ann

Your blog is simply DELICIOUS.I've been living in Paris 18 months and those wonderful acquarelles and the comments you write make me return to my city.Also where I live was near you(51,rue de Vaugirard...alors ma petite I feel at home)I recomend you two places for your beatiful paintings:Polâine(rue de Chereche Midi-it´s one of the best bakeries in Paris..try those little apple cakes)and the S.XIX peacocks paintings inside La Samaritaine(incredibles).Allez-y!!!Smila

Carol, Have a beautiful time in Paris. I cant wait till there are paintings and wonderful comments of your days. I wold really be interested in the art stores and the cafes. I cant imagine what it feels like to be sitting there and seeing all the magical things.Linda

It's interesting how reading your posts again while you're in Paris sparks off other reactions. "Restraint and refinement is the urban message." I haven't read The Color of Cities you quoted but I recall "ravalement de façade" from my student year in France and now, it has led me to this agreement: http://www.paris.fr/portail/Urbanisme/Portal.lut?page_id=5693&document_type_id=5&document_id=635&portlet_id=12206

ParisBreakfast Letters

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5. I'm still at it but now tripping over cobblestones on l'Ile Saint-Louis In Paris. Savor Parisbreakfast with a hot chocolate and croissant.
I paint Paris dreams.